Chapter 127: Han Ziyan found a job
"I can’t remember the last time they were this eager," commented Old Master Zhai in a low voice. "Try calling them when they need to pay taxes and see them vanish for days."
Zhai Muchen smiled and replied with a chuckle, "Well, grandfather, you cannot expect everyone to be as patriotic as you." As he spoke, he pulled a chair around the main table for his grandfather to settle down. They were not willing to listen to the nonsense that the investors were prattling on about, but since they were invited by the mayor, they had to show considerable respect to the position of the man, even if they held no respect for the man himself.
Old Master Zhai snorted and took his seat. His expression was full of boredom as he took a look at the investors who were excitedly talking to the mayor and telling him the good things that they had prepared for the county if the mayor gave them a chance to develop here. Listening to the flattery, Old Master Zhai wanted to barf.
Fortunately, at that moment, Master Bo arrived in the dining hall. He bowed in front of the elites before picking up the silver spoon sitting next to the female matriarch. He raised the spoon in the air and then cracked the central carapace with a practised flick of his wrist.
With a swift crack, the shell of the crab broke open, and a collective gasp went around the table. The interior was not just meat; it was a solid, steaming block of vibrant orange roe. It looked so rich, like it had been carved out from the clouds dyed orange during sunset. The aroma started to spread throughout the entire room. The sweet, briny and intensely fatty delightful scent filled the room in an instant.
"I have to say that I have seen many crabs from countries A to H," the lead investor commented in a loud voice. His chopsticks were trembling as he looked at the sweet delight in front of him. "But I have never seen a wild female crab this size. It’s really... a treasure."
Master Bo served the meat along with the crimson crab roe in several dishes before the servers spread around the room and started serving the main dish in front of the guests.
Soon, the small dish was served in front of Zhai Muchen, who took a small, elegant bite. The roe was creamy, melting right on his tongue with a concentrated essence of the deep sea. For the first time in the evening, he felt that there was something worth his interest.
He raised his head and looked at Uncle Feng before softly saying to him, "Did it come from that special supplier?"
"You are correct, young master," said Uncle Feng as he spoke in a manner of professional secrecy. "My brother did say to me that the special supplier was the one who secured it. The one who uses her eyes rather than the nets."
Zhai Muchen looked down at the crimson shell. He felt a strange flicker of curiosity. In the city, there were many seafood collectors, but he had never seen someone as skilled as Han Ruochen. He tapped his knuckles on the table’s surface and wondered whether he should pay even more attention to this mysterious woman, who was finding things so rare as if she were picking up pebbles from the shore.
*
While the elites were dining on her catch, a new storm was heading Han Ruochen’s way.
Han Ziyan, who was still not willing to let go of the opportunity that came her way the hard way. She finally pooled all the money that she could have saved, as well as the money that she had borrowed from her friends. Finally, she was able to gather enough money to buy the gift.
However, even after she gave the woman an expensive gift, the matter of her job was left in a frenzy and yet—
"Mom!"
"Ziyan, you are back home!" Meng Yunhan was tired of bones because of the work that she had joined, but when she saw that her beloved daughter had returned home, she was filled with another kind of energy. "Are you drained from looking for a job?"
"It was alright, Mom." Han Ziyan lifted her chin proudly. "Mom, I have finally found the job that I was looking for. It’s in the army."
"The army? You really found such a good job?" Meng Yunhan was quite happy. She had a feeling that today was going to be a good day, but she never thought that it would be such good news.
"Of course. Why would I lie about it?"
At most, Han Ziyan had hidden a few things, like how her job was a temporary one or that the job she received was not a good one; it was low pay and really hard. But these things were something that Han Ziyan was not going to tell her mother. Because she wanted to prove to her parents that she was better than Han Ruochen.
When Meng Yunhan heard that Han Ziyan had gotten a job, she hurriedly pulled her daughter to the kitchen and gave her seven yuan. She said, "Ziyan, you have worked hard. Don’t worry, Mom will not shortchange you. Since you have worked so hard, you should pay attention to your health, and make sure that you eat the meat dishes at the canteen. Don’t try to keep up with others and eat nothing. You have your mother to rely on."
Han Ziyan was really happy when she saw that she had got her hands on seven yuan. Though this sum was not really small for Han Ziyan, who had nothing in her hands, this was better than nothing. At least she could have a good meal tomorrow.
"Thank you, Mom!"
"Don’t thank me. This is what you deserve." Meng Yunhan patted her precious daughter on the head. She said to her, "Don’t worry, when your dad comes home, I will ask him to give you more money."
